Seatbelt usage logging and alerting system

Abstract

A system is provided for logging failures of using seatbelts by occupants of a motor vehicle. The system includes a digital processor, a non-volatile memory, an odometer/speedometer, a clock circuit, seatbelt sensors and a passenger occupancy sensors data. The digital processor utilizes data from the odometer/speedometer for determining the distances travelled by the motor vehicle while occupants were not using seatbelts. The non-volatile memory is configured to record logs for the failures. The digital processor utilizes data from the clock circuit for counting the total times while one or more occupants were not using their seatbelts. The odometer/speedometer verifies that the failures occurred while the motor vehicle was in motion.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for logging failures of using seatbelts by occupants of a motor vehicle, said system comprising:
 a digital processor;   a non-volatile memory;   an odometer/speedometer;   a clock circuit;   seatbelt sensors; and   passenger occupancy sensors data,   wherein said digital processor utilizes data from said odometer/speedometer for determining the distances travelled by said motor vehicle while occupants were not using seatbelts,   wherein said non-volatile memory is configured to record logs for said failures,   wherein said digital processor utilizes data from said clock circuit for counting the total times while one or more occupants were not using their seatbelts,   and wherein said odometer/speedometer verifies that said failures occurred while said motor vehicle was in motion.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said odometer/speedometer is replaced with a GPS receiver and said digital processor utilizes data from said GPS receiver to determine the vehicle distance while occupants were not using seatbelts and the time while occupants were not using seatbelts were in violation of the local seatbelt laws of said region in which said motor vehicle was present when said violations occurred. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said odometer/speedometer is replaced with a GPS receiver, and where said non-volatile memory is additionally utilized for storing applicable seatbelt laws for different local laws, said processor utilizing said stored seatbelt laws and GPS data to verify whether said failures were violation of local said laws for additionally generating logs of seatbelt violations. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein in addition to said odometer/speedometer, a GPS receiver is utilized, wherein said non-volatile memory is utilized for storing applicable seatbelt laws for different local laws, and where said processor utilizes said stored seatbelt laws and GPS data to verify whether said failures were violation of local said laws for additionally generating logs of seatbelt violations. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said system generates a report in real time, said report is accessible on a screen display, via a communication port, or via wireless access, said report configured to include any one status selected from the group consisting of:
 seatbelt current status for each of seatbelts in said motor vehicle,   whether each seatbelt is “in use” or “not used.”   a “start period” and an “end period,” indicating the beginning and end periods for inclusion of failures to use seatbelt in said report,   “distance travelled without use of seatbelt” for each seatbelt,   “time travelled without seatbelt without use of seatbelt for each seatbelt”   the accumulated “totals” for all seatbelts for both “distance travelled without use of seatbelt” for each seatbelt, and “time travelled without seatbelt without use of seatbelt for each seatbelt”, and   the “current time” and identification information concerning said motor vehicle, i.e., “license plate number”, “VIN” and “home state.”   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said system is configured to generate a report in real time, said report being accessible on a screen display, via a communication port, or being accessible wirelessly, said report includes anyone status selected from the group consisting of:
 a seatbelt current status for each of seatbelts in said motor vehicle, indicating whether each seatbelt is “in use” or “not used”;   a “start period” and an “end period,” indicating the beginning and end periods for inclusion of failures to use seatbelt;   a “distance travelled in violation of local law” for each seatbelt;   a “time travelled in violation of local law for each seatbelt”;   a “distance travelled without use of seatbelt” for each seatbelt;   a “time travelled without seatbelt without use of seatbelt” for each seatbelt;   an accumulated “totals” for all seatbelts for both “distance travelled without use of seatbelt” for each seatbelt, and “time travelled without seatbelt without use of seatbelt for each seatbelt”;   a “current time” and identification information concerning said motor vehicle, including “license plate number,” “VIN” and “home state.”   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6  wherein said report further includes accrued penalties for seatbelt violation, wherein said penalties are computed based on “distance travelled in violation of local law” or “time travelled in violation of local law for each seatbelt,” or a combination of both. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising wireless access for said system accomplished via cellular networks or satellite. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising wireless access for said system accomplished via a transponder, wherein a beacon transmitter transmits an interrogation signal, and said system replies with a report. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein replies from different motor vehicles are orthogonal or quasi orthogonal and can be process replies from different vehicles independently. 
     
     
         11 . An alert system for occupants of a motor vehicle, to be viewed by occupants of the vehicle, wherein for each occupant, a designated warning light is utilized to indicate failure to use seatbelts by said occupants. 
     
     
         12 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said warning lights are on an overhead console located in a front of the interior of said motor vehicle 
     
     
         13 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said warning lights are on a plurality of overhead consoles located in a front of each row of said motor vehicle's interior, to be viewed by occupants of each of said rows. 
     
     
         14 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said warning lights are on a plurality of non-overhead consoles located in a front of each row of said motor vehicle's interior, to be viewed by occupants of each of said rows. 
     
     
         15 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said warning lights are on a plurality of consoles located directly in front of said occupants. 
     
     
         16 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said warning lights are on a plurality of consoles located on the seatbelt receiver of said occupants. 
     
     
         17 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said warning lights produce different colors based on if failure of using seatbelt is in violation of local seatbelt law or not. 
     
     
         18 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a sound alert system for alerting each individual passenger of a motor vehicle who is not using seatbelt, said sound alerting system plays messages wherein a human voice is used for alerting passengers, such messages identifying the passenger's location who is not using seatbelt by the seat location, and further informs the passenger when the failure of using seatbelt is in violation of local seatbelt law. 
     
     
         19 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a vibrate alerting system using mechanical vibrations for alerting each individual passenger of a motor vehicle who is not using seatbelt. 
     
     
         20 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said vibrate alerting system uses a mechanism of generating mechanical vibrations implemented in the seats of the vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said mechanism of generating mechanical vibrations are implemented in the seatbelt receivers of the vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The alert system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein for each individual passenger, different types of intermittent vibrations are utilized to inform the passenger when the failure of using seatbelt is not in violation of local seatbelt law and when the failure of using seatbelt is in violation of local seatbelt law.